Technical Swimming: Individual Medley

Just got back from the Pond. I have done the Grand Slam of poker today. I woke up very early today, and still pissed off about the $75 donkfest from FullRig last night. So first thing in the morning, I decided to punish FullRig by withdrawing my full bankroll over there. Leaving less than $2 for emergency. Its also the beginning of my marathon swim. Instead of playing in the same site/table for a long period of time, I added some tweeks into it. Here's how I went:

LEG 1: Online Poker

I want to see how far I can go with only $2 in my account. KO Master did once before, built to $700 from like $5. Ok, I am not as good as he is, but I might give it a try. All those bankroll management, % buy-in related to bankroll, short stack strategy blah blah blah. I just chucked all them out the window. My bankroll right now only $2 (in FullRig), I don't care if I donk it away in 1 pot. Coz I can afford it!! Anyway, can't really buy-in to any SNG except $1.10 donkfest. If I lose that, I can't really do with 90c. So I grinded a bit in Stud H/L table, I made 30c in the process. Then I played 2 HU SNG, NLH and PLO each cost me $2.15. Lucky for me, I won them both, so my RIG roll right now stands at $6. Then Superman rang me up, and asked me to go for a swim. I went there after lunch.

LEG 2: Limit Holdem

I didn't feel like playing any cash table at the start. Not many tables opened, and each of them playing very loose and always a couple of monster stack over there. I saw Happy Andrews in the $5/$10 Limit table, so I cashed $150 and muck around with him.

I played very tight all the way, mostly play nothing up front. One thing I found out, the rake was killing me. They took $2.50 out from everypot right from the start. Most pot were above $50. So they took $7.50 rake for pots over $50, $10 in rake for pots over $75. Most importantly, they took the rake by the end of the hand. So instead of having 10% in rake, they are charging more than that.

The table as always in all limit games are very loose, no one willing to fold pre-flop. Everyone going to see the turn card for $5 as well. Position in this game is very important. The turn card would be the key. If you have a good hand, in late position, you can drive out a lot of opponents. I played like a NIT all the way, folding a lot of hands. I won a couple of mid-size pots today, and 1 monster pot. I had K 10 off on the button. After several limpers, CO raised to $10, I flat called. Everyone called, flop A J 7. Everyone fold to the raiser, and he bets. I flat called, plus 2 callers. Turn 9, now made 2 diamonds on the board, I had no diamonds. All of the sudden MP came out firing $10, initial raiser flat call, I called as well for my GS on the button. With close to $100 inside already, I gamble. I knew both of them not folding, so I have $20 implied odds to make my hand. So I were like getting 12 to 1 on a 10 to 1 shot, I called. BB folded. River Q, and I made the nuts. They all check to me and as I expected, they both called my $10 river bet. Happy Andrews left soon after and I followed him. A bit boring in those limit games, simply impossible to drive out people. Overall up $115 over there.

LEG 3: NLH

With $115 profit already, all it would cost me was $100 more to swim around with Superman. I joined his table, didn't play a hand in the 1st orbit. Dealt JJ in BB, limp pot, I pop to $25 and everyone fold. Couple of hands later, got AA in the middle. After 2 limpers, I raised again to $25, all of the sudden the guy next to me re-raised to $100. All folded to me and I applied the IRON FIST for total $205. He called. AA vs AK and I double up. A few hands later, UTG+2 dealt KQ, I raised to $18, all of the sudden the Maniac 2 seats on my left re-raised to $55, got 1 caller. Folded to me and I folded. I was thinking all I could hope for would be JJ or 10 10 for a flip. Although the Maniac re-raised, odds were those type of players love to raise with anything, but only re-raise with premium hands. Flop 9 10 J, Bugga!!! The maniac had QQ and took it down.

Once again I wish I have no idea. 2 face cards, I should go all the way! I should at least see the flop. I should fish around since my flippers is working today. If you never see the flop, you never know if you win or not. I should be sitting there with $800+ stack. Like Doyle Brunson used to say, " You need to play or you never know if you are on a rush or not." Pump my ass please!

My stack hovering around $400, then this hand came up. I dealt 5c6c in BB, limp pot and I checked in the dark. Flop 788 with 1 club. UTG fired $20, all folded and I snapped call. Turn Ac, I checked again, but not going anywhere. I put him on 7 instead of trips. Most likely I will have a free hit. He checked! River 9c. Instead of drawing to straight, I ended up making a flush. Since I put him on 7, I bet a teasing $15, hope he would call. He raised me instead to $50. Maybe he had full house, I snapped call him and he showed 5 6, same hand as me on the flop but I won with runners. Now stack about $530.

Then I lost the min on button with Jd 4d. Limp pot, and I called. Flop TT8 with 2 diamonds. All checked on the flop and I took a free hit. Turn 7d. Now I made the flush. SB came out with a $25 bet, BB flat called. I put one of them with 8, so if river no pair, I should be ok! River Qs. This time SB checked, BB came out betting $20. I flat called feared SB might going to check raise, since he representing trips on my part. SB called, BB showed Kd 2d and beat my flush. SB said he also had flush. I guess I lost the min in that one.

After the Maniac has left, I loosen up my game. Since I have established a tight image, I managed to run several bluffs at the pot and they all folded. Now stack close to $470. Then had KJ off, I raised to $8 UTG pre-flop. Got 3 callers. Flop J 9 8 with 2 diamonds. I fired out $20 on the flop, Superman and SB called. BB check-raised shoved for $150. I made another tight fold, invested only $28, I felt I were either marginally in front, or way behind. Not going to risk it at a small pot, so I folded. They called time soon after and I left with $440 stack. Superman didn't fare well today, as he busted his whole stack with KK, ran into AA preflop. Losing 2 buy-ins today.

FINAL LEG: Bonus Holdem

On the way to the carpark, I stopped by the bonus holdem table. $15 ante, $30 to play, $15 on flop and turn, plus $5 jackpot. First hand folded 8 3 off, and the next hand I called $30 with 6h3h, hit nothing and lost. Thats $70 already, I guess I better leave.